STREET OUTREACH NAVIGATOR

Meet people where they are. Open doors to housing. Strengthen our community.

Organizational Overview:

For over 130 years, Waypoint has been dedicated to inspiring people to move forward. We continuously evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of individuals, children, and families in our community through a variety of services and resources. Through this work, we remain devoted to improving lives and strengthening our community.

Position Summary: As a Street Outreach Navigator at Waypoint, you’ll support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness through field-based outreach, Coordinated Entry (CE) referral follow-up, and Point-In-Time (PIT) Count activities.

This is more than a desk role. You’ll work as part of a collaborative, cross-agency outreach team and serve as a bridge between individuals living outside and the services and housing resources available through Waypoint and the broader homeless response system.

If you’re someone who builds trust easily, shows up with respect and compassion, and is comfortable working in the community, this could be the role for you.

Pay & Schedule

Location: Waypoint Downtown, 318 5th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA

Starting Pay: $45,000/Year

Schedule: Full-Time, Exempt (hours may vary to meet agency and client needs)

Reports To: Managing Director of Critical Services

Why You’ll Love This Job

· Your work has immediate impact. You’ll connect people living outside to shelter, housing, and services.

· No two days look exactly the same. You’ll balance field outreach, referral follow-up, documentation, and community coordination.

· You’ll build meaningful relationships. You’ll meet people where they are, using a respectful, trauma-informed approach.

· You’ll connect with the community. You’ll partner with other agencies and recruit and train volunteers for the annual PIT Count.

· You’ll be part of something bigger. Your work supports Waypoint’s mission of creating stronger communities and empowering people to move forward.

What You’ll Do

Follow Up on Coordinated Entry Referrals

· Conduct field-based follow-up on CE referrals for individuals identified as unsheltered.

· Locate individuals at known locations or areas of encampment and make contact in a respectful, trauma-informed manner.

· Assess needs, offer available resources, and connect individuals to shelter, housing, or services.

· Document all contact attempts and outcomes in HMIS within the required timeframe.

· Communicate referral outcomes to the Managing Director of Critical Services and partner agencies.

Lead PIT Count Activities

· Lead the annual Point-In-Time Count for our region.

· Conduct surveys in assigned areas following Institute for Community Alliance (ICA) and Iowa Balance of State Continuum of Care protocols.

· Submit completed surveys and location data accurately and on time.

· Attend pre-count training and post-count debrief as scheduled.

· Facilitate Linn County pre-count training and volunteer recruitment.

Document & Communicate

· Maintain accurate, timely records of all outreach contacts and referral outcomes in HMIS.

· Communicate regularly with the Managing Director of Critical Services and outreach team members about field conditions, client needs, and emerging concerns.

· Uphold client confidentiality in all communications and documentation.

What You’ll Bring

You’ll thrive in this role if you are:

· Aligned with Waypoint’s values: Have Compassion, Instill Ownership, Empower People, and Embrace Diversity.

· Respectful and trauma-informed – You engage effectively with people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including those with behavioral health challenges.

· Organized and dependable – You bring strong documentation, communication, and time management skills.

· Flexible and resilient – You’re comfortable working outdoors in variable weather, including encampments and other non-traditional settings.

· A team player and self-starter – You work well independently in the field and collaboratively with a team.

· Tech-comfortable – You have working knowledge of Microsoft Office and can learn other software systems.

What You’ll Need

It is beneficial if you have:

· Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or other complex social services needs (equivalent lived experience will be considered).

· Familiarity with trauma-informed, housing-first, and harm-reduction approaches to outreach.

· Experience using HMIS or other case management systems.

It is required that you:

· Have access to reliable transportation.

· Have a valid driver’s license and be insurable under Waypoint’s insurance requirements.

· Successfully complete required background checks prior to beginning work.

· Maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to Waypoint’s confidentiality policy.